XN000022-1988-11-11 — Page 4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1988

"THE PROPOSALS RECOGNISE THAT JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE NORMALLY APPOINTED LATER IN LIFE AND UNDER EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNABLE EITHER TO PURSUE A LONG CAREER OR EARN A SATISFACTORY PENSION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THOSE WHO JOIN THE JUDICIARY ARE 10 TO 15 YEARS OLDER THAN THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE COUNTERPARTS, BECAUSE IT IS DESIRABLE THAT ONLY LAWYERS WITH ADEQUATE EXPERIENCE ARE APPOINTED TO JUDICIAL OFFICE.

"UNDER THE EXISTING PENSION ARRANGEMENTS, AN OFFICER SERVES 33 YEARS TO EARN HIS FULL PENSION ENTITLEMENT. AS A RESULT, LAWYERS OF ADEQUATE EXPERIENCE AND MATURE YEARS WHO HAVE JOINED THE JUDICIARY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EARN A WORTHWHILE PENSION.

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IT IS PERCEIVED

THAT THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FACTORS PREVENTING SUITABLE LOCAL CANDIDATES FROM COMING FORWARD AND SERVING OFFICERS FROM REMAINING.

**IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE MORE SENIOR PRACTITIONERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK JUDICIAL OFFICE AND NOT BE DETERRED BY THEIR INABILITY TO EARN A WORTHWHILE PENSION. THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL THEREFORE TO ACHIEVE THIS.

"THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENHANCE THE ACCUMULATION RATE OF PENSIONABLE SERVICE OVER THE AGE OF 50 WILL DOUBLE THE STANDARD PENSION EARNINGS RATE OVER THAT AGE; AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE APPOINTED LATER IN LIFE.'

**

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SERVICE BELOW 50 WOULD HOWEVER EARN PENSION AT THE STANDARD RATE.

"TO ILLUSTRATE THE POSITION, A JUDICIAL OFFICER APPOINTED AT 50, WHO RETIRES AT 65, WILL EARN THE EQUIVALENT OF 30 YEARS PENSION (ABOUT 53 PER CENT OF HIS RETIREMENT SALARY).

HE

"A JUDICIAL OFFICER APPOINTED AT 40 WILL EARN THE MAXIMUM PENSION OF TWO THIRDS OF HIS RETIRING SALARY IF HE RETIRES AT 65," SAID.

"THE OTHER SPECIAL FEATURE GUARANTEES JUDICIAL OFFICERS RETIRED WITH SHORT SERVICE ON GROUNDS OF ILL HEALTH, A MINIMUM PENSION EQUIVALENT TO ONE QUARTER SALARY.

"THIS BROADLY FOLLOWS UNITED KINGDOM PRACTICE то ENSURE THAT SUCH OFFICERS WILL RECEIVE A REASONABLE SUM IN PENSION BENEFITS.'

TO REFLECT THE JUDICIARY'S INDEPENDENCE, A SEPARATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS NEW PENSION SCHEME.

NEW APPOINTEES TO THE JUDICIARY AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW PENSION SCHEME WILL BE ENGAGED ON THE NEW TERMS AND SERVING OFFICERS WILL BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERRING TO THE NEW SCHEME.

THE PENSION

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